Golf swing and device

ABSTRACT

A device for aiding a golf player in addressing the ball and in maintaining his stance during the back stroke of the golf club, and the forward stroke to propel the ball into flight. It includes a pendulum type device with a flexible suspension cord and a mouthpiece to be grasped by the mouth of the golfer, and at the lower end of the cord a plumb-bob type of weighted body to be held right over the center of the golf ball, so that the user can visually hold his head stationary during the back stroke and forward stroke of the golf club, for he can immediately visually notice by movement of the plumb-bob weighted body any movement of his head.

0 United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,860,246 Fish Jan. 14, 1975 GOLF SWING AND DEVICE [75] Inventor: Barry M. Fish, Thornhill, Ontario, Pr'mary Examiner-George Mario Canada Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Peter Fries [73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc., [57] ABSTRACT New York a part Interest A device for aiding a golf player in addressing the ball [22] Fil d; N 2, 1973 and in maintaining his stance during the back stroke of the golf club, and the forward stroke to propel the [21] Appl. No.: 412,319 ball into flight. It includes a pendulum type device with a flexible suspension cord and a mouthpiece to 52] US. Cl..' 273/183 B be grasped y the mouth of the golfer, and atthe 51 1111.01 A63b 69/36 lewer end of the eerd a plumb-bob yp of weighted [58] Field 01 Search 273/183, 190, 32, 35, 188 y to be held right over the center of the g ball, so that the user can visually hold his head stationary [56] References Ci during the back stroke and forward stroke of the golf UNITED STATES PATENTS club, for he can immediately visually notice by movement of the plumb-bob weighted body any movement 1,459,705 6/1923 Bullock 273/190 A of his head 2,461,826 2/1949 Krautter 273/190 B 3,545,764 12/1970 Broderick 273/183 B 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures GOLF SWING AND DEVICE This invention relates to improvements in devices for aiding a golfer in assuming a proper stance in addressing the ball, and for continuing to maintain his said position until the ball has been struck and sent on its way.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved golf swinging aid device which is carried by the golfer to show to him immediately whether he is deviating from the proper stance and position for most effectively striking the ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved golf swinging aid device which is supported by the mouth of the golfer and is suspended directly over the golf ball which is on the tee, and in close proximity to the golf ball, so that if the golfer moves his head away from the intended proper position, the device will immediately move away from the golf ball itself, and the golfer cannot help but observe this incorrect procedure, and can in time correct it, to bring his head back to the initial position directly over the golf ball before swinging and during the swing of his club at the ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved golf swinging aid device in which there is a mouthpiece which is held in the mouth of the golfer, with an elongated plumb line suspended from the mouthpiece, and where at the bottom of the plumb line, there is a specialized type of plumb bob for suspension directly over and close to the golf ball itself, both the mouthpiece and the plumb bob being formed of light weight soft plastic or rubber material, both for ease in holding in the mouth, and also for safety in the event the plumb bob portion is struck by the golf club during the swing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved golf swing aid device which involves no extended calculations on the part of the golfer, but which is usable by anyone, even the novice, with little or no instruction, to keep his head stationary during the addressing of the ball and the back swing and forward swing of the golf club.

Still a further object of the invention it to provide a novel and improved practice aid device for use by golfers in addressing the ball and swinging their club back and forwardly to drive the ball, which is simple in design, formed of relatively very few parts, is usable by any golfer both novice and experienced to check his playing, and which can be made at low cost by relatively inexperienced labor and by mass production methods.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a golfer standing on the golf course, about to drive the ball, and with the swinging aid device suspended from his mouth.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the golfer shown in FIG. 1, with the golf aid device suspended over the ball.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the golf aid device of FIG. 1 apart from the golfer as seen from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the golf aid device as seen from theleft of FIG. 2, apart from the golfer.

In connection with the sport of golf playing it has been found that it is very important for the golfer to assume the correct and proper stance and position while addressing the ball, and to maintain it during the back swing and forward swing of his club, especially to avoid moving his head in any direction at all. However, most golfers do not realize that they are moving their head during this most critical short time, and hence do not realize why their scores are so poor and do not improve.

The present invention is intended to enable the golfer, by himself to keep his head still and to see immediately the evidence of moving his head, the indicator of the device being obviously moved away from being directly over the ball if his head is moved, even a little bit.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, there is a golf course green 10, on which the golfer stands while addressing the ball 12, in order to strike it with his golf club 14, and thus to launch it on its way to the next hole of the golf course. While not shown, it is understood that the golfer may use a golfers tee to support the golf ball on teeing off, but this is not done on subsequent shots, such as in putting on the green near the hole itself.

As shown, the golfer is grasping the upper end of the golf club with both hands, and there is considerable art in the grasping of the golf club, that is, with both hands clasping separately and individually, or by interlocking some of the fingers of one hand with fingers of the other, and so on. However, the present invention deals directly with the stance and position of the body of the golfer relative to the ball, and as seen in the views, he is leaning slightly over forwards, so his head is'directly above the ball. Assuming that this is the correct stance and body position of the golfer, according to the views of the present inventor, means are provided for making sure to the golfer himself that his head does not move during the back swing and forward swing of the golf club in hitting the ball. 1

For this purpose, I provide the pendulum device shown in the views, at 16, which is shown in actual use in FIGS. 1 and-2, and in enlarged detail front and side views in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown, it includes a mouthpiece body portion 18, made of soft rubber or rubberlike material or of soft plastics, and may have a tapered shank portion 20, with an inner end portion 22 which may be slightly enlarged'for being securely gripped in the mouth by the teeth, and a washer-like enlarged head end portion 24, which may be either circular .or oval in shape. From FIGS. 3 and 4, it is seen that for optimum comfort by the golfers mouth and teeth, the shank portion 20, the inner end portion 22, and the head end portion 24, may' be preferably oval in shap, not only to fit the mouth of the golfer better but also to allow him to always orient the device in the same position in his mouth, and thus to control to some extent the positioning of the plumb bob portion 26 suspended on the string 28 over the golf ball 12. i

The suspending string or cord 28 may be made of strong lightweight material, such as cotton, nylon or other plastics, such as are used in fishing lines, and also may be made of thin lightweight metal, such as aluminum, copper, brass or the like which can hang freely under the weight of the plumb bob portion 26. It is not necessary that the plumb bob portion be made of heavy metal or the like, and in fact it is preferable that it be made of other material, such as soft rubber, plastics, or the like, so that in the event the golfer strikes it with his club during the swing, instead of the golf ball, no one can be hurt if struck thereby, including the would-be golfer.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suspension cord or line 28, is secured through an eyelet 30 extending out of the portion 24 of the mouthpiece 18, by a knot or the like, and at its lower end is extended through a bore in the plumb bob portion 26 shank 29, and secured by a knot as shown. The lower body portion 32 of the plumb bob portion 26 is preferably tapered downwardly to a pointed end 33, so that it lies directly above the center of the golf ball 12 as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, or closely thereabove, and easily visible to the golfers sight.

It is thus seen that the golf aid device is adaptable to the use of all golfers, male and female, and also whether they are tall or short in height Thus, the invention allows for fitting the length of the suspension cord 28 to the individual golfer, so that it fits the elevation of his mouth and head from the golf ball. Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 4, the cord 28 may be looped as seen at 34, to shorten or lengthen the cord 28, and to releasably fasten the loop 34a by simple means, such as even a paper clip 36 or clothespin or clamp which will not obstruct the view of the golfer of the plumb bob portion 26.

The plumb bob portion, while it should be light in weight, should not be so light that a slight cross wind will keep it from vertical suspension, and also should be coated with or made of a coloration which is easily visible even in darkened skies, as of fluorescent colors and the like. As the golfer is at this critical moment of getting ready to hit the ball, he is as is well known, under considerable tension, and for this reason the portion 20 of the mouthpiece should be made of bitable material, such as is used in mouthpieces of prizefighters, so that he can absorb his tension in biting the mouthpiece if possible.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is maintaining a desired and proper bodily stance while addressing and striking a golf ball comprising an elongated mouthpiece having a first end adapted to fit the mouth of a golfer and to be securely gripped by the golfers teeth, a cord having one end thereof secured to p the opposite end of said mouthpiece, a weight member symmetrically balanced about its longitudinal axis and having upper and lower ends, the upper end of said weight member being secured to the other end of said cord in a manner such that when said weight member is hanging freely and suspended by said cord, the longitudinal axis of said weight member is substantially aligned with said cord, and the length of said cord being such that when said mouthpiece is gripped by the golfer, while addressing a golf ball with a golf club and executing a golf club swing, said weight member is freely suspended above the center of said ball to provide a means for detecting head movements of the golfer. 

1. A device for aiding a golf player in assuming and maintaining a desired and proper bodily stance while addressing and striking a golf ball comprising an elongated mouthpiece having a first end adapted to fit the mouth of a golfer and to be securely gripped by the golfer''s teeth, a cord having one end thereof secured to the opposite end of said mouthpiece, a weight member symmetrically balanced about its longitudinal axis and having upper and lower ends, the upper end of said weight member being secured to the other end of said cord in a manner such that when said weight member is hanging freely and suspended by said cord, the longitudinal axis of said weight member is substantially aligned with said cord, and the length of said cord being such that when said mouthpiece is gripped by the golfer, while addressing a golf ball with a golf club and executing a golf club swing, said weight member is freely suspended above the center of said ball to provide a means for detecting head movements of the golfer. 